Fine Gael’s A&E proposals put students’ lives at risk

national | consumer issues | opinion/analysis Tuesday December 27, 2005 21:15 by Max

Fine Gael has called on the Government to introduce a five point plan to cut A&E attendances by up to a 1/3. The plan which includes penalizing people who attend A&E units and also happen to be drunk, may put lives at risk.

The proposals ignore the fact that the vast majority of those attending A&E units are actually in need medical aid and further that the majority of those in attendance never cause any disturbance to staff or fellow patients.

One of the key planks of the policy calls for the doubling of A&E fees for those found to be under the influence of alcohol. The proposed fee of almost €100 will discourage people who may need medical aid from seeking it and will hit those on low incomes hardest, students in particular.